News from the Embassy

Are you interested in spending the summer in Norway while earning study credits? Here is an overview of summer programmes at Norwegian universities and university colleges.

Scarce rainfall as was the case during the winter of 2008/2009 can cause numerous environmental concerns for Jordan. The country suffers from limited fresh water resources, deforestation, overgrazing, soil erosion and desertification. The recent downpour of 32 mcm of water is thus considered a blessing, and fresh water supplies are filling up. At the same time, heavy rainfall represents a double-edged sword for Jordanians. The rain combined with a poor drainage system has caused flash floods in several big cities. The floods left scores of people trapped and flooded streets and basements.

Jonas Gahr Støre, the Norwegian Foreign Minister visited his Jordanian counterpart; Mr Nasser Judeh, Saturday 16. January. Støre started a regional visit that will take him to Israel, The Palestinian Territory, Egypt and Abu Dhabi in Jordan. He is visiting the region to discuss official efforts to resume peace negotiations.

Norway participated at The Annual Diplomatic Christmas Bazaar 12 December. Representatives from all the Nordic countries sold ginger bread, sweets, gløgg, Norwegian aquevit, handicrafts and Lego (among other things) from the Scandinavian stand. This year saw a new sales record for the Scandinavian countries, with the total income increasing with almost 50 % from earlier years.

The kick off for the Norway-Middle East Girl's Football Festival was arranged 23 November. Among the speakers were Norwegian deputy foreign minister Gry Larsen, former NFF president and UEFA vice president Per Ravn Omdal, and FIFA Women's Football Development Manager Mayrilian Cruz Blanco. In addition to these, Olympic champion Gøril Kringen and World Cup champion Heidi Støre also attended the kick off arrangement. During the ceremony, the participating girls marched in to Petra Stadium, and hundreds of white balloons under the flags of the participating nations symbolised fair play and fri...

The Norway-Middle East Girl's Football Festival was officially opened 22 November. The Norwegian deputy foreign minister Gry Larsen was the guest of honour at the ceremony.

On Tuesday 10 November 2009, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani received credentials of the Norwegian ambassador Petter Ølberg in Iraq in al-Salam Presidential Palace, Baghdad in the presence of Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari and head of Presidency Divan Nasser al-Aani. In addition to Ølberg, newly appointed ambassadors from Austria, Egypt and Belgium also presented their credentials.

This year "The Norway-Middle East Girl's Football Festival" will be launched as part of the Norwegian Football Association's MFA-funded development project in the Middle East.Girls from Iraq, Jordan, Syria, Iran, Palestine, Lebanon and Norway will participate at the festival. The festival will be arranged 22-29 November 2009, and the players will be girls between 14 and 16 years old.

Mr. Petter Ølberg, the Norwegian ambassador to Iraq and Jordan, opened 29 October a new football field in Erbil. The football field is one of six new football fields constructed as part of a Norwegian Football Association-project, funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Norway participated at The Annual Diplomatic Bazaar 10 October. Representatives from all the Nordic countries sold waffles, cakes, coffee and Lego from the Scandinavian stand.